This is something we hear quite often when patients come in. Typically, this patient is a woman whose doctor told her not to lift “X” amount of weight again or she’ll hurt her back.

I had a patient recently in her early forties. She has a job that requires her to lift animals, move heavy bales of hay and things of that nature. Therefore, she has to be able to lift weight! And when someone says you can never lift “blank” again, I guarantee you there is an option to be able to do it again safely. What is actually happening is that, while it’s well-meaning advice, they don’t really understand the way the body works they way we do as Doctors of Physical Therapy.

Typically, what we’ll do is take people through a full body movement screen where we can see exactly what’s going on. Usually, the issue is not in their back, even when they have been told so by their physician or other medical provider.

Typically, your back may hurt because something else isn’t doing its job like it should and your back is strong and just pulling in overtime. Your body is great at protecting itself and telling you when you need to change your movement or activity. That’s why it hurts. Pain doesn’t always equal harm or tissue damage. Pain is a signal from your body that increases as the perception of threat increases.

Fear of movement or of potential injury, even if it’s not actually likely, increases your pain and symptoms.

If you have pain and don’t know why, or you’ve been told to never lift something heavy again, I guarantee you, most of the time there is an option to be able to do so again. You just need to speak to the right person, someone like a Doctor of Physical Therapy who is an expert in pain and movement.

About The Author

Dr. Aaron LeBauer is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist. He owns LeBauer Physical Therapy, LLC, with his wife Andra, in Greensboro, N.C. He has been helping active people stay fit, active and healthy without medications, injections or surgery since 1999. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Elon University in 2008. Dr. LeBauer graduated from Duke University in 1996 with a B.A. in History and moved to San Francisco where he studied Massage Therapy and Health Education at the National Holistic Institute. He has specialized in Myofascial Release since 2000 and is an Instructor with the John F. Barnes MFR Seminars. A native of Greensboro, Dr. LeBauer returned in 2005 to continue the third generation of LeBauers as health care professionals in Greensboro.
Dr. LeBauer helps weekend warriors, high level athletes, desk jockeys, students, children and anyone with pain, stiffness return to the activities the love without expensive imaging, pain medications, injections or surgery. He specializes in treating people with chronic conditions, pain and injuries which have not responded to traditional treatments and therapies with the goal of helping patients have less pain, move better and feel wonderful in their bodies.
Dr. LeBauer also helps other physical therapists start and grow successful cash-based physical therapy practices. He has developed an online training course that describes in detail how to start a small private practice, along with his marketing secrets and strategy. He is currently available for recorded telephone and video coaching sessions, email support, on-site visits and speaking engagements. Contact him for more information, rates and services..
Dr. LeBauer enjoys riding one of his vintage Vespa and Lambretta scooters or his bicycle to work. He has raced bicycles since high school and as a category 1 amateur throughout the United States. He was based out of Northern California and North Carolina and spent a very memorable summer racing in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. He enjoys working in his garden and has an edible landscape including pears, apples, scuppernogs (native muscadine grapes), raspberries, blueberries, figs, various seasonal vegetables and shiitake mushrooms. He has two beautiful daughters and an amazing wife.